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Sheriff’s Office warns of scam

Published: Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 19, 2013 at 11:50 p.m.

Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office is warning residents to beware of a phone scam where people are duped into believing they are helping a family member in jail.

The scam usually involves a caller claiming to be a family member in distress and asking for money, said Sheriff’s Office spokesman Brennan Matherne in a news release.

The caller may say his or her voice is different because of illness, Matherne said. The caller typically tells of some sort of conflict that requires immediate money through a Moneygram or Western Union transfer.

The scam may also involve a separate call from someone claiming to be in law enforcement and seeking to corroborate the conflict. The release states residents should always verify information by asking as many questions as possible and finding ways to independently check it.

The release also suggests using caller ID to verify the caller and contacting other relatives about the call.

<p>Lafourche Parish Sheriff's Office is warning residents to beware of a phone scam where people are duped into believing they are helping a family member in jail.</p><p>The scam usually involves a caller claiming to be a family member in distress and asking for money, said Sheriff's Office spokesman Brennan Matherne in a news release. </p><p>The caller may say his or her voice is different because of illness, Matherne said. The caller typically tells of some sort of conflict that requires immediate money through a Moneygram or Western Union transfer. </p><p>The scam may also involve a separate call from someone claiming to be in law enforcement and seeking to corroborate the conflict. The release states residents should always verify information by asking as many questions as possible and finding ways to independently check it.</p><p>The release also suggests using caller ID to verify the caller and contacting other relatives about the call.</p>